Young Jiang Ziya

The backyard room was narrow and simple, filled with the smell of dust, mildew, and cheap lamp oil. Lü Shang helped Shen Gongbao sit down on the straw mat-covered couch, then turned and closed the door to shut out the outside noise.

He took out the external wound powder and clean linen that Shi Yuan had prepared from his bag, and then went to the kitchen to fetch a basin of warm water. His movements were quick and silent, just as he usually did when serving Ji Fa, only his eyes no longer held that deliberate clumsiness, but rather a more focused clarity.

Shen Gongbao leaned against the cold earthen wall, watching him bustle about. The shackles on his wrists and ankles burned with pain, and the lingering poison from the 'Marrow-Corroding Grass' and 'Heart-Clearing Lotus' within his body was still stirring. Before him, this young servant—Shen Gongbao sensed no spiritual energy fluctuations whatsoever—was as still as a deep pool.

"Thank you," Shen Gongbao said in a hoarse voice, breaking the silence.

Lu Shang shook his head and handed over the damp cloth: "Wipe your face first. The wound is covered in dirt and needs to be cleaned carefully." His voice was calm, revealing little emotion.

Shen Gongbao did as instructed and wiped the water, which quickly turned grayish-black and dark red. He noticed that Lü Shang was bending over and preparing a bitter-smelling ointment, his movements skillful, unlike that of a novice.

"You...you're not an ordinary servant, are you?" Shen Gongbao asked tentatively, his gaze fixed on Lü Shang's face.

Lu Shang's hands did not stop moving at all, and his tone remained calm: "I've only been following Mr. Shi Yuan for a long time, doing odd jobs, and have learned a few basics." He gently applied the ointment to the deepest bruise on Shen Gongbao's wrist. The ointment felt cool to the touch and contained a faint soothing spiritual energy—of course, this could be explained as the old pharmacist Shi Yuan's method.

Shen Gongbao didn't press further. The brief respite brought on by the pain allowed his long-suppressed grief and urge to confide to burst forth like a dam breaking. He looked at his well-bandaged wrist and gave a bitter smile: "These injuries... are nothing in the tower. There are many worse ones out there."

Lu Shang raised his eyes and looked at him quietly without saying a word, but there was no fear or disgust in his eyes when ordinary people heard the word "sorcerer," but rather a posture of listening.

This silent encouragement opened up Shen Gongbao and he started talking.

"Everyone says that sorcerers are the source of calamity." His voice was low, tinged with an indescribable bitterness. "In ancient legends, the first blood plague was brought about by sorcerers who possessed forbidden knowledge. Not to mention later... there were always some scoundrels who, in pursuit of greater power, dabbled in the evil art of 'blood magic,' sacrificing the blood and lives of living beings, committing countless atrocities... That's why the Tower of Purity and the Guardians of the Breaking Spell came into being."

He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "When I was six, it was discovered that I could see 'spiritual light' and stir up a breeze. My parents cried and sent me to the tower in Katsuragawa Castle... They said it was for my own good, to prevent me from going astray and harming others and myself. At first, I believed them. In the tower, we were taught to identify herbs, learn the basics of runes, control psychic energy, and recite ancient precepts... They told us that power is responsibility, a shackle, and must be restrained."

His voice grew increasingly agitated, his fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the straw mat: "But what happened afterward? What did the constraints become? The elder sorcerers of the tower told us that for the first few centuries, perhaps it truly was for teaching and prevention. But power corrupts the heart! The guards watched over us like talking livestock! They forced us to wear 'shackles' and perform the most dangerous and mentally taxing exploration labor deep in the mines, euphemistically called 'serving the country.' When they were in a bad mood, they would beat and scold us at will to vent their anger, and even humiliation and disrespect were commonplace. If a sorcerer resisted, or even just had a verbal altercation with a guard, they could be accused of 'studying blood magic with malicious intent'!"

Shen Gongbao's body began to tremble slightly: "Do you know about the 'Demon Sealing Ritual'? It's not a simple punishment! It's like peeling away a person's joys and sorrows, memories and obsessions... all the parts that belong to 'humanity,' like skinning and tearing out tendons, leaving behind an empty shell that can only carry out orders! It's more terrifying than death! Some sorcerers with a bit of talent and a bit of temperament are dragged off to undergo the ritual and turned into walking corpses just because of this fabricated 'dangerous tendency'!"

His eyes were red and bloodshot: "And this time in Guichuan City... Ha! That butcher He Ding! He didn't even bother to find a charge! The blood plague appeared in the mine tunnels, and any sorcerers who had come into contact with that batch of spiritual essence could be infected? So they killed them all! 'Purification'? They used the Demon-Slaying Arrow to nail their struggling, pleading companions, who hadn't fully mutated yet, one by one to the tower wall! I saw it with my own eyes..." He choked up and couldn't continue.

Only Shen Gongbao's heavy breathing and the crackling of the burning lamp wick remained in the room.

After a long silence, Lü Shang finally spoke, his voice soft yet clear enough to reach Shen Gongbao's ears: "So, you escaped. I never imagined such a terrible thing could happen at the Tower of Purity in Guichuan City. Your resentment is understandable."

Shen Gongbao suddenly looked up, staring blankly at Lü Shang: "Don't you think we deserve to die? Don't you think the defense was right? Everyone fears sorcerers, hates sorcerers, and believes we were born with original sin!"

Lu Shang met his gaze, his eyes calm as an ancient well: "Power itself is neither good nor evil. It is the human heart that is. Those who abuse power should be punished, and those who indiscriminately kill the innocent... are not righteous either." He paused slightly, as if choosing his words carefully, "Xiqi also has a Tower of Purity, and it also has guards. But as far as I know, the Marquis's rule is very strict. Although there are rules within the tower, there are few horrific acts of oppression. At least... not to that extent."

Shen Gongbao was stunned. He had anticipated contempt, fear, and even hypocritical sympathy, but he never expected to hear such words—no condescending judgment, only calm statement, and even a subtle indication of an exception that might not be so dark.

"Xiqi...is it really different?" he murmured, a glimmer of light, not entirely despair, flickering in his eyes for the first time, though it was quickly overshadowed by deeper weariness and doubt. "But the crows of the world... never mind. For a servant like you to say such things is already quite remarkable. Thank you."

Lu Shang said no more, tidied up the medicine bottle and cloth, and stood up, saying, "You should rest well. Mr. Shi Yuan's medicine can temporarily stabilize the erosion in your body, but the way to eradicate it... still needs to be discussed in the long run. There may be an operation tomorrow, and you will need to guide us in the mine tunnels."

"Lead the way?" Shen Gongbao caught the word in astonishment. "That guard in your team looks like he wants to devour me alive, how dare he ask me, a barbarian sorcerer, to lead the way?"

"Young Master is a man who prioritizes the greater good. He won't let Commander Lei Kai make things difficult for you." After saying this, Lü Shang nodded slightly, blew out the extra oil lamps, leaving only a small lamp in the corner, and then quietly left the room and closed the door.

In the darkness, Shen Gongbao leaned against the wall, the cooling effect of the medicine spreading from his wrist wound, and the "dam" within his body, temporarily reinforced by the gentle power, seemed to have stabilized somewhat. He recalled Lü Shang's calm gaze and words, his heart filled with doubts, yet he also inexplicably felt a long-lost, faint warmth. This servant from Xiqi… was definitely not simple. If it were an ordinary person, he could easily dismiss them, but this servant named Lü Shang seemed to have a connection with him, and he genuinely wanted to venture into that forbidden area with them.

The next morning, the inn welcomed an unexpected yet reasonable visitor—the Third Prince Emin arrived in plain clothes with only a few trusted guards, without making a big fuss.

E Min was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a sharp and intelligent face and bright eyes. His demeanor carried the composure of someone who had long held a high position, yet he possessed a more capable and pragmatic air than the average nobleman. He didn't engage in much small talk; after exchanging greetings with Ji Fa and Wu Dan, he went straight to the point.

"Young Master Ji Fa, the special envoy of the Martial Arts Academy, I have heard a little about what happened last night." E Min's voice was calm, revealing little emotion. "What Shen Gongbao said is mostly true. My father did indeed fall ill after inspecting Mount Fuling, and his condition is serious. The court is now under the control of Prime Minister Byron. My elder brother (E Cheng) is gentle and kind, and has the support of some veteran officials. As for me..." He smiled, with a hint of self-deprecation, "I am merely a prince with some ideas, but not the eldest son of the legitimate wife."

Ji Fa also cut to the chase: "The Kingdom of E is the very foundation of the spiritual essence. If the blood plague gets out of control here, the whole world will be in danger. Xiqi has come here to form an alliance to jointly resist this great calamity, and also to save itself. May I ask the Third Prince, who is in charge of the Kingdom of E right now? And who is willing to take charge?"

Emin looked sharply at Ji Fa: "Who can take charge depends on strength and methods. Who is willing to take charge... depends on who can give E a real way out, instead of just barely surviving under the thumb of Chaoge, or turning into withered bones in the blood plague." He leaned forward slightly, "Prime Minister Byron favors my elder brother because he is kind and easy to control. What he seeks is nothing more than to continue the old system and stabilize Chaoge. As for the blood plague... it will not shake the foundation of E's rule. It will only require the implementation of some strict isolation policies. Byron is a conservative politician; he will not rashly send troops to attack the Blood Puppet Army."

"And what about you?" Wu Dan asked.

"I want to eradicate the blood plague," Emin declared resolutely. "The blood plague is unlike anything else; it rots from within. Isolation and slaughter can only delay, not solve. The polluted mines of Fuling Mountain are a malignant tumor that must be removed! But this is extremely risky and will threaten the interests of the group led by Byron, who rely on the existing mine's output to maintain their power. I need external forces, I need prestige, and even more so, I need someone to prove to the people of my country—that I, Emin, am capable of handling this crisis that concerns the very survival of our nation!"

He looked at Ji Fa, his eyes gleaming: "Your Xiqi needs allies, you need spiritual marrow. I need achievements, I need to break the deadlock. Deep within the main mine tunnel of Mount Fuling is where the contaminated spiritual marrow was first discovered, and also the source of my father's illness. The earliest transformed blood puppets reside there, fraught with danger. If you can help me cleanse that mine tunnel and provide concrete evidence, I will have enough leverage to persuade the onlookers in the court, suppress Byron, and gain more power."

Ji Fa pondered for a moment: "Clearing the mine tunnels is fine. But I have one condition."

"Speaking."

"Immediately cease the indiscriminate purging of uninfected sorcerers within the Guichuan Tower of Purity!" Ji Fa's voice brooked no argument. "The blood plague is terrifying, but wielding the sword against compatriots who may still possess reason, or even those who may be key forces in the fight against the plague, is self-destructive and will alienate the people! Screening, isolation, and observation are necessary; only those confirmed to have mutated beyond cure should be executed. This is the bottom line."

A flicker of surprise crossed E Min's eyes, quickly turning into deep thought. He didn't immediately agree, but slowly said, "He Ding is in charge of the garrison, and although his methods are ruthless, he has many supporters in the face of widespread panic. Suddenly forcing him to change course might cause unrest."

"Then let's find someone who can carry out orders to temporarily take over the defense outside the tower, or... let He Ding 'focus' on the mine tunnel defense." Wu Dan interjected casually, her words carrying a hidden meaning.

Emin glanced at Wudan, a slight smile playing on his lips: "The special envoy is indeed very thoughtful. This matter... I can handle it. But the prerequisite is that you must bring back enough results from the mine to quell some of the panic and divert attention. Otherwise, I cannot forcibly suppress the fear of the garrison and the people."

"It's a deal." Ji Fa extended his hand.

E Min gave him a high five: "I will arrange reliable people to provide support from the outside and try to distract He Ding. The mine map and known intelligence will be provided later. When can you set off?"

"There's no time to lose. Prepare today and set off at dawn tomorrow." Ji Fa acted swiftly and decisively.

"Alright! I will send someone to deliver the necessary equipment and pollution control agents." Emin stood up. "Awaiting good news." He paused, looked at Ji Fa, and said, "I hope you all... take care. That mine tunnel has already claimed too many lives."

After the people from Hubei left, the atmosphere in the post station was heavy. Clearing out the main mine tunnel was undoubtedly venturing into the lion's den.

The final selection was quickly made: Ji Fa personally led the team, Lei Kai led three of the most elite Xiqi guards as the main body of guards and combat force, Lü Shang accompanied them as a personal servant to handle miscellaneous tasks and take care of any possible wounded, and Shen Gongbao... as a sorcerer who had been forced to work in the mine tunnels and was relatively familiar with the internal paths, served as the guide.

"I disagree!" Lei Kai was the first to object, his cold gaze sweeping over Shen Gongbao, whose face was still pale in the corner. "Letting a warlock with a suspicious identity, who just escaped from the infected area, accompany us? And deep into the most dangerous area at that? What if he loses control along the way, or harbors malicious intentions..."

"We need someone who knows the way," Ji Fa interrupted him, his tone resolute. "Time is of the essence, and there is no better option. If he makes any unusual moves..." Ji Fa didn't finish his sentence, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Shen Gongbao raised his head, meeting Lei Kai's distrustful gaze, and said in a hoarse voice, "I agree to lead the way. I only ask... if I unfortunately contract the blood plague along the way, please... give me a quick death. Don't let me become that kind of monster and harm people." His words were filled with resolute sorrow.

Lu Shang silently packed the dry rations and water that Shi Yuan had specially prepared, mixed with trace amounts of purifying and calming agents. Shi Yuan handed a small bottle of pungent-smelling medicine to Ji Fa: "Take this before approaching potentially heavily polluted areas. It can temporarily resist the invasion of foul air, but the effect is short-lived, so be careful."

Before dawn the next day, the sky was pitch black, and the mountain winds were exceptionally biting. The group of seven left the post station silently. With the help of trusted confidants arranged by Emin, they bypassed the main checkpoints and headed deep into the mountains surrounding Guichuan City. The outline of Mount Fuling in the fading night resembled a crouching behemoth, its gaping, dark maw wide open.

The entrance to the main mine shaft had long been blocked by guards, with talismans pasted on the huge wooden fence, but the Emin people had cleared a hidden path in advance. Passing through the abandoned miners' sheds, the sweet, fishy smell in the air grew stronger, mixed with the stench of rocks and metal, making one feel nauseous.

The mine entrance resembled a tomb passage, dark and deep, with a cold wind blowing back from the depths, carrying a low, sobbing echo. On the rock walls on both sides, one could occasionally see dried, blackened bloodstains, as well as scattered, torn miners' clothing and broken tools.

Lei Kai lit the specially made spirit lamp, whose light was stable and unaffected by evil influences. Its dim yellow glow barely illuminated an area a dozen steps ahead. The guards drew their swords, watching the darkness warily. Ji Fa, longsword in hand, walked at the head of the group. Lü Shang followed closely behind, carrying a sizable bag. Shen Gongbao led the way a little further ahead; though still weak, his memory of the path was exceptionally clear, and he frequently whispered warnings about forks in the road and where to watch out for falling rocks.

The mine tunnel winds downwards, its slope gradually steepening, the traces of human excavation slowly being replaced by twisted and bizarre lava landforms, resembling the internal organs of a mountain. Under the light of the Spirit Marrow Lamp, the rock walls occasionally refract dim, iridescent crystalline light—the faint glow of the original Spirit Marrow ore—but in the current environment, it only appears eerie and ominous.

Deathly silence was the dominant sound here. Only the sounds of footsteps, breathing, and the rustling of armor echoed in the empty tunnel, amplified and made exceptionally clear, yet also exceptionally unsettling.

After walking for about half an hour, a slightly open collapsed area appeared ahead, with piles of rubble. Shen Gongbao was about to signal to go around when a faint, intermittent groan came from behind the pile of stones.

Everyone instantly went on high alert. Lei Kai gave a hand signal, and two guards silently moved in to surround them.

The lamplight illuminated a corner of the pile of stones, where a ragged, filthy man huddled, his body covered in festering wounds, his face ashen, and his eyes unfocused. He clutched a tattered basket tightly to his chest, inside which lay several dull pieces of spirit marrow ore.

Shen Gongbao gasped, exclaiming in a low voice, "Old Chen? Is it... is it Foreman Chen from the No. 3 mine in Fuling Mountain?"

The man seemed to hear the sound. His unfocused eyes shifted slightly as he looked toward the light source. His face showed extreme terror, and he made strange, hoarse noises: "Run...run fast...they've all gone mad...they've all gone mad...eating...eating people...giving birth...giving birth to children..." His words were fragmented, and he was clearly no longer lucid. His body began to twitch unnaturally, and the dark red veins under his skin were faintly visible.

Lei Kai's eyes turned cold as he raised the Demon-Slaying Crossbow in his hand and aimed it at the miner's forehead.

Ji Fa raised his hand to stop him, squatted down, and asked in as calm a tone as possible, "What's wrong with you? Who eats people? What do you mean by having children?"

Miner Old Chen, however, seemed to be trapped in a deeper hallucination of fear. He violently flailed his arms, knocking over his basket, scattering spirit marrow stones all over the ground. Pointing deeper into the dark mine tunnel, his voice was shrill and distorted: "Down there! It's all down there! Altars... blood pools... bound... endless children... monsters... ha ha... we'll all become monsters!"

His voice abruptly stopped, his body jerked violently, his eyes turned a completely murky dark red, and a low, inhuman growl escaped his throat as he lunged at the nearest guard! His movements were far faster than they appeared!

"Watch out!" Lei Kai shouted, and the Demon-Slaying Crossbow bolt shot out, accurately piercing Old Chen's forehead. The miner's body stiffened, then collapsed, and thick, dark red blood seeped from the wound, quickly soaking the ground.

Everyone stared silently at the corpse. Old Chen's delirious ramblings before his death pierced everyone's hearts like icicles.

"Man-eating... an endless stream of children... an altar?" Wu Dan's deputy, an elderly Xiqi guard, his face pale, murmured repeatedly, "This... this doesn't sound like an ordinary blood puppet..."

Shen Gongbao's face was even more ashen than a corpse's. He crouched down, his hands trembling as he examined the blood flowing from Old Chen's wound. He then looked at the spirit marrow stones on the ground, his voice hoarse: "These stones... are far more contaminated than the batch I encountered when I escaped. And... what he called 'altars' and 'blood pools'... in the oldest forbidden scrolls in the tower, it seems to mention... an evil ritual that uses extreme pain and distorted life to nurture and catalyze even more powerful filth..."

Ji Fa stood up, his brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on the all-consuming dark abyss below the mine tunnel. Old Chen's frantic words cast an unexpectedly bloody and eerie shadow over this purge mission.

"Keep going." Ji Fa's voice rang out in the dim mine tunnel, carrying a resolute determination that cut off any hesitation. "Whatever lies down there, we have to see it for ourselves. Shen Gongbao, lead the way, and speed things up."

The group set off again, venturing into deeper darkness. The flickering lamplight cast long, distorted shadows onto the mottled rock walls, making them appear like a group of tiny creatures heading towards the esophagus of a giant beast. And within the lingering sweet, pungent smell, a hint of… a more intense, fresh scent of blood seemed to be mingling.